Tyra Black, the world No. 5 women’s doubles pickleball player, is sharing her secrets for raising game awareness on the court. Known for her sharp reading of rallies and her ability to stay one step ahead, Black explains how trust, patience, and smart tactics separate elite professionals from everyday players.
Black, whose legal middle name is Hurricane, recently joined Kyle Koszuta, also known as “That Pickleball Guy,” for a video breakdown of her play. Together, they analyzed strategies that help her and her partners succeed at the highest level of competition.
Trust in Partners
For Tyra Black, doubles success depends on trust and teamwork. She and Jorja Johnson of the Dallas Flash have built strong chemistry.
“I usually know where she’s hitting most of her shots,” Black said. “We have specific shots we’re going for on the court. She has really good middle drops. The second I know she’s hitting the ball there, I’ll start to press forward.”
Her advice to recreational players: communicate first before rushing the net.
Lobs as a Reset
Instead of panicking when caught in the middle of the court, Black often uses the lob.
“Me and my partner were both in no man’s land and I wasn’t sure what my opponent was going to do with the ball,” she explained. “So I just decided to give us both a little bit more time and throw the lob up there so we could both back up.”
For her, the lob is more than a last resort—it’s a way to reset and regain control.
Smart Speed-Ups
Black also shared her thoughts on when to speed up play.
“When I see the ball bouncing a little bit higher, that’s when I’ll start to speed it up,” she said.
Kyle Koszuta added, “A speed up is a setup. It’s not usually going to be a winner once you get to a certain level.”
Both believe attacks should be seen as the beginning of an exchange, not the end.
Compact Swings in Fast Battles
Coming from a tennis background, Black had to adjust to pickleball’s fast pace.
“The bigger my swing is, the less time I have to react to the next ball,” she explained. “I realized I had to make some adjustments.”
She now relies on short, compact swings to stay quick during hand battles at the net.
Patience as a Weapon
Perhaps her strongest lesson is the value of patience.
“I kind of want to speed everything up and just slam my way through everything,” Black admitted. “But you really have to work the points and wait for the right ball.”
She stressed that top players succeed by mastering dinks, resets, and control, not just power. “To go to the next level and be the top players, you really have to hone in on the soft game,” she added.
The insights highlight why Tyra Black has quickly risen to the top of the sport after her switch from tennis. By blending patience, strategy, and teamwork, she is shaping her reputation as one of pickleball’s smartest competitors.
News in Brief: Tyra Hurricane Black Pickleball Strategies
Tyra Black, ranked No. 5 in women’s doubles, revealed five tips to boost pickleball IQ in a film session with Kyle Koszuta. Her lessons include trusting partners, using lobs, treating speed-ups as setups, keeping swings compact, and relying on patience. Black credits these strategies for her success on the pro tour.
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